The Story of a Broody LEGHORN!

[chkncrazy]

UPDATE: SHES STILL SITTIN...5 MORE DAYS TO GO!!!!!!!!! I noticed today she got out of the nest and was drinking water on her own thank goodness I hope she eats as well I noticed some of the eggs hatched smears of poop on them but from what I remember that is common!

 

[chkncrazy]

Update: as I was in the barn I could have sworn I heard faint chirping followed by the broody making a noise....perhaps they're pipping I'll be checking later

 

[chkncrazy]

Major UPDATE so far 6 out of 8 !!! 2 days early lol!!!!

 

[chkncrazy]

the other 2 should also be hatching the feel hollowish....and they were smack dab in the middle!!! I'm so excited lol... when will she try venturing out? When she thinks the others have hatched or gave up? Should I do.anythung with the chicks?

 

[NatJ]

the other 2 should also be hatching the feel hollowish....and they were smack dab in the middle!!! I'm so excited lol... when will she try venturing out? When she thinks the others have hatched or gave up? Should I do.anythung with the chicks?

Make sure it's safe for when the chicks do come out of the nest, and have food and water available.

The chicks can be fine for a day or two without eating and drinking, so don't worry if they just stay under the hen on the nest for a bit longer. She will come off the nest at some point, but I think it varies from one hen to another.

If you think the last two eggs are still alive, you can just leave them in the nest, as long as the hen's still on it.

If you aren't sure about the last two eggs, you could take them out and listen carefully for peeping, candle them and look for motion, and then decide what to do. If they really are dead you should dispose of them, but if they are alive you can leave them under the hen or put them in an incubator until they hatch.

 

[chkncrazy]

Make sure it's safe for when the chicks do come out of the nest, and have food and water available.

The chicks can be fine for a day or two without eating and drinking, so don't worry if they just stay under the hen on the nest for a bit longer. She will come off the nest at some point, but I think it varies from one hen to another.

If you think the last two eggs are still alive, you can just leave them in the nest, as long as the hen's still on it.

If you aren't sure about the last two eggs, you could take them out and listen carefully for peeping, candle them and look for motion, and then decide what to do. If they really are dead you should dispose of them, but if they are alive you can leave them under the hen or put them in an incubator until they hatch.

THANKS I've had chickenS for over 20 years but I have never had a Broody SINCE I was like 10 so I'm like what do!!! I do I have to take her out of the basket that they're in right now where she was brooding the eggs and put the nest down in the cage and put some food out for chicks a waterer and dip their beaks in and then you know let them do what they going to do. I meant the eggs feel like there's something inside of it it doesn't feel wishy-washy like a raw egg , it feels heavier on one side. Im excited

 

[NatJ]

a waterer and dip their beaks in

Not needed, because the hen will show them how to drink.

 

[chkncrazy]

Not needed, because the hen will show them how to drink.

Okay thabks!!!! Alum serve them through the next 24 to 48 hours they're so cute all the bluebells hatched and two Marans and a Jersey Giant... the two that are left are brown and light brown but no idea what they are they're basically all mixed the hen was the breeze mentioned but the dad is an Easter Egger so I might get some olive Eggers out of the females... my next puzzle is figuring out which ones are male and females in the next few weeks haha.... last night there was only one pipping and overnight they all hatched besides the remaining two... Also tonight at 830pm will be day 20!

 

[chkncrazy]

This has been such a great experience, I feel left out because I haven't had a Broody in 20 years they, to my amazement are eating and learned how to drink from the mom so adorable the last two eggs were washouts but that's fine because Lucky Number 7 are alive

 

[chkncrazy]

They're still doing very well I'll be posting possibly weekly picks if there's change I think I have some bluebells a couple Marans and buff orpington.. all of them have an araucana father but the chicks actually look like the mother hen as babies besides the bluebells I don't know what those look like as babies LOL